JUNE marks the start of another exciting winter hockey season for KwaZulu-Natal’s biggest hockey club, Riverside Hockey. In addition to the usual league fixtures, a number of worthwhile, unmissable events are planned for the coming months.

On 16 June, Youth Day, the club will hold its annual Mini Hockey Festival which attracts mini-athletes from all over the province. There will be more than 70 teams with players from the U9, U11 and U13 age groups from surrounding clubs and communities joining in the fun.

Riverside Hockey festival organiser, Natalie Cryer, says, “This really is a great way for our enthusiastic young hockey players to prove their mettle on the pitch while the festival itself provides a fun day out for the whole family. This is part of our mandate to promote sport and specifically hockey as a healthy, social activity within our club’s mantra of pure hockey enjoyment.”

The ‘Kit for KwaMashu Kids’ programme will also be launched at the festival. Sponsored by Varsity College, this initiative appeals to all people attending the Spur Riverside Mini Hockey Festival, if they are members of Riverside or visiting clubs, to bring old hockey kits to donate to the INK (Inanda, Ntuzuma and KwaMashu) Hockey Club.

Chairman of Riverside Hockey Club, Wayne Phillips said he was thrilled with the exponentially growth of hockey in the areas. “We’ve had a strong relationship with INK Hockey Club since 2007 and donating unused hockey and other sporting equipment is one of our major ways of supporting them.”

Finally on the 27, 28 and 29 June, the club will host the Riverside Elite Club Challenge. This is the country’s only national inter-club tournament and this year the teams will showcase our International Stars (currently playing in the World Cup in Holland) including last year’s runners-up, Wanderers from Gauteng, the Western Province CC and current title holders Riverside.

“All teams field international players and are current league champions in their provinces. There is no doubt this tournament will provide some thrilling hockey entertainment,” Phillips said.

For more information visit www.riversidehockey.co.za